The PAW Centre at the University of Alberta

26/09/2014 11:35

Your morning workout will never be the same again. Students at the University of Alberta will soon be able to use the brand new Physical Activity and Wellness (PAW) Centre currently being constructed on campus, which gives them the option of deciding between rock climbing, doing yoga, going for a swim right before classes, or using the state of the art workout equipment available on the two work out floors the PAW Centre will house.

Here at University of Alberta International, we were lucky enough to have gotten an early tour of the building that is set to open late this year - just in time for our new international students coming to campus! The building features a giant climbing wall, two workout floors, and tonnes of spaces for yoga, kickboxing, or any other number of classes offered to UAlberta students. There is also a swimming pool, lectures rooms, and even a communal kitchen students can use when they forget their lunch!

The PAW centre is a partnership between the Faculty of Physical Education, Graduate Students’ Association, and Student’s Union, UAlberta, and the Government of Alberta. Once it is completed the centre will be open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community. The project also includes a “social street” that will have alongside it many comfy spaces for students to enjoy a group study or gossip session with friends!

Take a look at our sneak peek and what the building will look like when it opens:

What is great about this space is that there are many sustainable features included in the building design such as the use of natural light, an important feature in a northern climate; triple-pane energy efficient windows; and natural, recycled and low-emitting materials for building finishes. In addition, the building will also be the home to a pilot project for solar photovoltaic panels, which can be seen in the picture above.

(Picture of the top part of the Social Street...do you love our hard hats?!)